Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1887-01-08

j
petuate the memory of the day upon
which freedom came to them as boon
to be transmitted to their latest pos
terity. Although the parade was not
as imposing a pageant as last year, it
was no failure. The colored people
were out en- masse on the streets to
witness the procession as it passed
through the principal thoroughfares.
Howard school having 600 pupils,
was dismissed through the permission
of the superintendent and they, with
their teachers were out in time to en-
Joy the occasion. The grafton was to
be delivered at the State fair grounds
but the weather was such as to neces-
state change of programme; there
fore the court house was secured. The
building was absolutely iammcd-
standing room was all taken and an
xious crowds had to remain on the out
side.
The Rev. j. c. Price, of North
Carolina, was the orator of the day.
He was escorted to the judges desk by
Peter Flynn Oliver, Esq, who was
orator of last year, and who was
mounted in full regalia as one of the
officers of the Knights of Wise Men in
the procession. Maj. G. D. Lowndes
was chief Marshal and turned out in
full military accoutrements He an
nounced the beginning of the exer-
cises by introducing Mr.. Scopio Star
ling as Master of the ceremonies.
Rev. j. B. Middleton led in prayer,
which was followed by music from the
band. Then in neat little speech
Mr.. Startling introduced the orator to
the audience. When the great orator
arose and advanced he was greeted
with enthusiastic applause His sub
ject was, 1.-THE American Negro; His
Future and His Peculiar Work" No
synopsis might give could give an
idea Of his mastery effort. He said
that it was the negro's duty by ad-
vancement to vindicate the Loveioys.
Greeleys, Garrisons and Summers, to
be industrious, to get heart and mind
right, and by self-exertion to rise to
the full dignity of true manhood and
womanhood. He said that the South
was the place for the negro; that he
was here to remain. He reduced the
amalgamation theory to reasonable
absurdty. He urged the negro to make
his demands upon the world from the
man standpoint and not as a negro.
He regarded slavery as Providential,
and looked for yard to the day when
glorious results would rebound from
it. He spoke for more than two hours,
holding his audience spell bound the
whole time, and frequently eliciting
the greatest applause, He is surely
polished, scholarly and eloquent orator.
May the race thank God that it has
such man to make foot prints on
the sands of time..''
Rev. G. Brewer pronounced the
benediction and the crowd returned to
their homes no doubt with Kew de-
termination to rise higher in the scale
of progress. The orator was then cs-
cortcd in a close carriage by Maj.
Lowndcs and the other mounted Off
GERS to the residence of Rev. Mobley's
married daughter who was former
pupil of the orator.
Rev. Price visited the schools of the
city yesterday. At Howard school he
talked to the pupils on temperance,
whom he delighted and instructed and
made enthusiastic temperance working
boys and girls. H then leet for Sal
isbury o. the 80 p. m. train.
Rev. Brawley's paper makes its
first appearance tomorrow, the 9Th
inst
The Hon. c. NJ. Wilder and family
have moved to Washington.
Mr.. P. G. Drayton, who has been
here ever since the summer days tldy-
ing theology and the ladies, leaves in
a few days for Lincoln University to
finish his stulies.
Tho Han II Gtralar d.I;.o,.,l